I can do. The old system worked on a premis of rank value. So a CM logging in would have a rank value of 14, Captain 6, etc. The server tallies up the total value for each faction, and then spawns AI to the total of that. The issue with the system started when we added tiered ships, which included smaller ships at higher ranks, so we could end up in a situation where the game server could spawn an enemy Engineer AI ship ranked at CM when a CM logged in on another faction. Not ideal.

To fix this, I changed the weight system to use the ship level. Destroyer = 4, Cruiser = 5, Dread = 6, etc. In addition, when tallying up player weights, I added their rank to their ship level, so a CM piloting a Dread would be 20 points worth of spawning for the other teams. Whilst I was at it I also disallowed spawning of Scouts, Frigates, Transports, and Stations. Starports spawn Transports as is, so no need for extras, and as far as Scouts, Frigates, and Stations go, the AI is less than ideal at piloting them, so I've excluded them for now.[ This Message was edited by: Pantheon on 2018-03-30 17:06 ]_________________

I can do. The old system worked on a premis of rank value. So a CM logging in would have a rank value of 14, Captain 6, etc. The server tallies up the total value for each faction, and then spawns AI to the total of that. The issue with the system started when we added tiered ships, which included smaller ships at higher ranks, so we could end up in a situation where the game server could spawn an enemy Engineer AI ship ranked at CM when a CM logged in on another faction. Not ideal.

To fix this, I changed the weight system to use the ship level. Destroyer = 4, Cruiser = 5, Dread = 6, etc. In addition, when tallying up player weights, I added their rank to their ship level, so a CM piloting a Dread would be 20 points worth of spawning for the other teams. Whilst I was at it I also disallowed spawning of Scouts, Frigates, Transports, and Stations. Starports spawn Transports as is, so no need for extras, and as far as Scouts, Frigates, and Stations go, the AI is less than ideal at piloting them, so I've excluded them for now.
[ This Message was edited by: Pantheon on 2018-03-30 17:06 ]

Thanks for the explanation, it's much clearer now. Just one other question, if you don't mind: How often does the system do the calculation? Will another player logging in immediately have an effect, or does the server do the check in pre-set time intervals?
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Posted: 2018-03-31 13:47 &nbsp
Server checks for AI changes every 30 seconds, so it's quite often, however there may be other lockouts in other systems that we probe to get the info that may run longer between update cycles.

In regards to the docking count down timer, I could drop that down to 3 seconds (to allow people to cancel) as I agree it makes little sense now.
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Posted: 2018-04-01 02:13 &nbsp
loving the AI changes, theres lots more and when bombers show up they actually drop bombs.......good job keep up the excellent work.

peace out
_________________1st recorded subscription activation 8-17-01 (under a different name & email)
17 years of playing this mo'-fo....amazing isn't it ?
119 on prestige list..
R.I.P. Stephen Hawking
R.I.P. Stan Lee

Posted: 2018-04-02 19:53 &nbsp
i am now thinking that the docking timer is redundant and agree it should be either reduced or removed.
_________________1st recorded subscription activation 8-17-01 (under a different name & email)
17 years of playing this mo'-fo....amazing isn't it ?
119 on prestige list..
R.I.P. Stephen Hawking
R.I.P. Stan Lee

On 2018-03-31 13:47, Pantheon wrote:
Server checks for AI changes every 30 seconds, so it's quite often, however there may be other lockouts in other systems that we probe to get the info that may run longer between update cycles.

In regards to the docking count down timer, I could drop that down to 3 seconds (to allow people to cancel) as I agree it makes little sense now.

The docking timer is not so much a problem, the main problem is the fact that the shipyard cannot be used as long as the combat timer is active. That can be removed. It should be changed so that ships can dock, even with an active combat timer.
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The only AI I've seen so far is Kluth AI, not one UGTO AI defending Sol or any other system, not even a dessy! Kluth also had a higher "new" points system.

*Edit* Forgot to say Kluth had AI (2 dreads, 2 cruisers) when they should have had no AI (according to the points system)
[ This Message was edited by: Renovamen on 2018-04-02 20:32 ]

I think the problem is with the low amount of players logging in nowadays. When a faction has nobody on, that faction gains a huge amount of AI, but as soon as a single CM logs into a faction, most AI disappears.
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